{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpage-one.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fep-44-kurt-wagner-battle-for-the-bird-5rivfBdX","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Ep. 44: Kurt Wagner - Battle for The Bird","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/8583da00-42e9-4897-ab16-2a2d61be8a44/f833c74d-8613-4747-bf09-01be8fd5072c/page-20one-20podcast-ep-2044.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"In Episode 44 , we interview Bloomberg journalist and author Kurt Wagner about his book, Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and the $44 Billion Fight to Save Twitter’s Soul. The conversation explores the unexpected turns and challenges Wagner faced while writing this book. Intending at first to write a biography about Jack Dorsey, Wagner took an unforeseen detour when Elon Musk entered the scene and changed the trajectory of the narrative—and Dorsey’s vision. The ensuing transformation of the book’s theme illustrates the fluid yet chaotic nature of creating anything. Kurt’s meticulous research and tenacious pursuit of sources —including 150 interviews and interactions with 115 Twitter employees results in a narrative rich in detail, providing an inside look at a company—and a founder’s soul, caught between the fierce demands of activist investors and a compromised vision. The transition from short-form journalism to an expansive book format posed its challenges. Wagner reflects on the demands of outlining, crafting a coherent flow, and the importance of maintaining reader engagement throughout. He describes his disciplined routine during his three month book leave—a regimen of writing that required an unwavering focus akin to endurance sports. And bonus: Kurt shares some of his favorite sentences from other writers that he keeps on his phone. We get to hear him read a few—and share so much more. You'll love Kurt and Battle for the Bird! Hope you enjoy this episode. "}